The International Olympic Committee (IOC)’s Coordination Commission concluded its eighth visit to Turin, host of the 2006 Winter Olympic Games. The commission reviewed the progress made by Turin’s Organizing Committee, but specifically focussed on the services that will be provided to the athletes and International Federations, the National Olympic Committees, the media and sponsors.
The IOC expressed renewed concern Wednesday about housing at the 2006 Games, but expects organizers to be ready when the Games begin in 14 months.
Jean-Claude Killy, chairman of the IOC’s Coordination Commission, said construction of the Olympic Village and other lodgings in the Sestriere ski resort “remain a difficult point…although I’m sure it will be solved in due time.
“There is still much work to be done, but I remain confident that everything can be completed on time, as long as we make the most of every moment between now and the Games”, he said.
Sestriere, near the French border, is to host most of the Alpine skiing during the Games.
Killy said “TOROC has demonstrated progress in its planning and operations – work in areas like transport is now very advanced. The progress in Turin and the mountains comes just in time. This winter, world-class sports events will provide important tests of the facilities that will serve the Games. There is no time to be lost in the race to be ready for the world’s best winter sports athletes”.
Turin 2006 said Wednesday that 20 per cent of 69 Olympic venues and infrastructure projects have been completed.
Killy said the IOC was aware of the $242 million shortfall in TOROC’s provisional budget that must be approved by the end of the year. TOROC’s board of directors will vote on the budget December 21.
Killy said, “there are worries about how to get more income…however we expect great progress in marketing that at the moment is only at 82 per cent of its potential”.
Organizing head Valentino Castellani said he expected that state-owned companies, from public broadcaster RAI to oil giant ENI, and energy group ENEL, still could play a part in sponsoring and promoting the Games. National airline Alitalia, which had agreed on a $7.7 million sponsorship, had to cancel when the state-owned company was at the brink of bankruptcy.
Although working groups of the Coordination Commission will continue to visit Turin during the coming months and clusters of test events, the full Commission will meet again in Turin in June 2005.
